Libby had been curled up in bed for half an hour. Granted, it was only just after 9pm, but she still couldn’t gather her thoughts. She’d lived on her own since Daniel had walked out all those years ago and she quite liked her own company but the reality of moving to the other side of the world was getting closer and the thought was beginning to scare her a little.
Taking a notepad from her bedside cabinet, Libby picked up a pen and drew a line down the middle of the page, then wrote ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ at the top of each column. She began to make a list.
Pros:
Fantastic career opportunity.
Living in New York City.
Working alongside the best in the industry.
Financial stability.
Cons:
Will miss my home and family.
Will miss Guy.
Social stability.
She stared at the page. Both sections were short and sweet and the words ‘family’ and ‘career’ were turning over in her mind. Why couldn’t she have it all? But how would that even be possible? Placing the notepad back on the bedside cabinet she thought of Guy and his family. She knew how lucky she was to have grown up with Flynn and her father. The death of her mother could have had a profound effect on her wellbeing, but her father and Flynn had been strong in their support and Libby loved them unconditionally for shaping her into the person she was today.
Switching off the light and pulling the duvet up around her chin, Libby closed her eyes. Minutes later, she was woken by a tapping sound. She opened her eyes and listened. There it was again. Sitting bolt upright in bed, she switched on the light. There was someone at the door. Quickly grabbing her dressing gown she pulled the belt around her body and hurried into the living room. Taking a peep through the curtain, she saw Guy standing outside with Pickle under his arm.
Opening the door, her first thought was that he looked dreadful: exhausted and visibly upset. ‘Come in,’ she said. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m so sorry, you’re dressed for bed.’
‘I was in bed,’ she confessed. ‘And woke up when you knocked.’
‘I can go.’ Guy gestured back towards his own lodge.
‘Don’t be daft, you’re here now and I’m awake. Let me make a cuppa.’
‘Thank you,’ he replied, taking off his boots and hanging up his coat. ‘Sorry, I had to bring Pickle because otherwise she would have just been barking at the front door and Holly is in bed.’
‘You and Pickle are most welcome anytime. You get the fire going and I’ll switch the kettle on.’
After greeting Libby, Pickle jumped up on a chair and immediately settled down. Ten minutes later she was asleep and Guy and Libby were sitting on the sofa in front of a roaring fire, their hands cupped around mugs of hot, milky tea.
‘I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean…’ said Guy, genuinely upset. ‘I feel like I’m losing myself and I just have no one to turn to.’
‘You do,’ Libby replied tentatively. ‘I’m always here for you, And you don’t need to apologise.’
‘Thank you, but I do. I didn’t mean to speak to you the way I did before. It was out of line and undeserved.’
‘Apology accepted,’ she said warmly. ‘Now, do you want to tell me what’s really going on here?’
‘I think I do,’ he said, taking a sip of tea. ‘I’m going to be truly honest with you, although it hasn’t seemed to get me anywhere in the past.’
‘Let’s hope that changes then,’ said Libby, tucking her leg underneath her and resting her elbow on the back of the settee. ‘It’s good to talk.’
‘And it’s so easy with you, which I wasn’t expecting. You’ve taken me completely by surprise.’
‘In a good way or a bad way?’
‘Obviously a good way. The first time we met—’
